Why Pilates Is Here To Stay!

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Contrary to a recent article in New York Magazine!

About a month ago an article entitled ‘Pilatespocalypse‘ claimed that Pilates numbers were on the decline. It sparked lots of response which basically boiled down to if Pilates is on the decline it’s only in New York City where skyrocketing rents may be the issue rather than declining interest.

This article casts further doubt on ‘Pilatespocalypse’ with news that one of New York City’s most respected Pilates teachers and studio owners is about to expand.

Have a look!

Why New York City’s Pilates Gurus Say the Workout Is Here to Stay

Alycea Ungaro is really excited for November, when she’ll open Real Pilates’ second New York City location, in Soho, after almost 20 years of operating her thriving studio in Tribeca.

It’s one of many reasons she’s really jazzed up to talk about what New York Magazine recently dubbed the “Pilatespocalypse,” in a story suggesting that the more than century-old fitness system was becoming obsolete. It generated lots of buzz on New York’s Pilates and larger fitness scene, with tons of teachers and students of the method adding comments in protest…..

“Pilates is a mindful system, and we want you to be present in your body so you can become stronger and smarter simultaneously,” Ungaro says. “If that’s not hot anymore, we don’t care. The people who want to do Pilates are always going to find Pilates—and we’ll be around for them.”

Pilates and the fitness boom

Cited in the New York Magazine article was a survey that suggested fewer people have been doing Pilates over the past several years, but serious stats are hard to find, and in New York, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence to the contrary (yes, it’s anecdotal).

In addition to Real Pilates’ expansion (which also includes the introduction of an in-demand teacher training program), over the past two years, Karen Lord opened her large, chic studio in Tribeca, Brooklyn Strength opened a second location, Physio Logic debuted an expansive new facility, two small studios opened uptown, Erika Bloom expanded her presence in the Hamptons, and Uptown Pilates opened a third Manhattan studio in the West Village.

“Our class numbers are certainly up,” says Uptown’s co-owner Adam Drushal. “We opened the Village studio on August 1, and basically by November 1 that studio was profitable.”…..

Ungaro says that instead of the boutique fitness boom stealing clients from Pilates, she’s seen it as creating more interest. “We’ve gotten busier and busier as all of the exercise regimens have grown and as fitness has grown in popularity overall.”….

The future of fitness: Pilates myths and facts

This, to me, is the most interesting aspect of the debate. While Pilates definitely doesn’t fit the image of the tank-drenching, music-blasting party that the new boutique fitness consumer craves, people have been getting smarter about fitness over the past few years as they’ve pedaled and planked, and many current locker room conversations are not about “I wish that was harder,” but are around questions like “why didn’t that instructor show us correct form?” and “was the pain I just experienced actually good for my body?”Both Drushal and Ungaro cite lots of examples of fit enthusiasts turning to Pilates to correct the imbalances they’re picking up as they fling themselves from CrossFit to barre. You’ve heard the buzzy term “functional fitness,” I’m sure, and Pilates says it’s the original. “We train you to perform optimally during workouts and in life,” Ungaro says…..

About The Author

Buzz Staff

Thanks for visiting! We are a group of passionate and long-time Pilates students and instructors who contribute regularly to this website and Facebook Page (Pilates Buzz). We are now among the top Pilates sites on the web, and we take this seriously by bringing you the very best and latest from all over the Pilates world - provocative posts, latest products, best books and videos, and award-winning instructors. Occasionally, this may include our own material. When this is the case, the author is not involved in order to avoid bias and self-promotion. We accept no gifts or other compensation for the products we review or mention. We are rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau (click the BBB seal on the right for reviews). We'd be delighted to feature your post or announcement. Contact us anytime. And thank you for making us one of the best! By the way, we respect all the different schools of Pilates and welcome all points of view. We also love all the fusion of Pilates with other disciplines from yoga and Zumba to boxing and tango! Our one concern is that Pilates has become too complicated, and we are proud to feature our senior member, Bob Hannum pictured above, who is a leading voice for a return to the way Joseph Pilates originally taught - simple and easy. His latest articles are featured here. From all of us, enjoy!